PARTNERS
“Believe in yourself, learn, and never stop wanting to build a better world.”
— Mary McLeod Bethune, Civil Rights Activist and Educator
Schools are where we live, learn and develop the intellectual foundation for the rest of our lives. At Turning Green, we believe school campuses and communities are one of the best starting points for sustainable change. All of us have the potential to bring more sustainability and justice into our school environments. Chances are, other students and teachers are already interested, just waiting for someone to reach out and start making things happen. That person could be you! Imagine sparking change on a massive scale by starting with your campus, then branching out to schools near you. Step by step, together with our classmates, leaders and partners, we can build the capacity necessary for real, lasting, positive impact.
The COVID-19 pandemic has completely shifted school and education, requiring everyone to adapt to a new reality of online learning with countless challenges, as well as opportunities. In some ways, it is easier than ever to connect with teachers, mentors and peers, when all you have to do is log onto a call. Think about how much you have already accomplished during Project Green Challenge this month, simply from your computer screen. All around the world, students are mobilizing and organizing virtually for causes they believe in. Even if we are not physically together, we still have a powerful ability to affect change across our communities.
Student-led movements have always been powerful catalysts for societal change. Motivated young people have limitless potential and immense capability! From school strikes for climate to March for Our Lives to the movement to ban glyphosate on campuses, people just like you are rising up locally and globally in support of a safe, healthy planet. Your work on one campus may well lead to growth, even national movements. Every project begins with taking the first step.
Even if you are not on campus this fall, you can still make a difference for your school, engaging the community from the safety of your home. Being away may also allow you to look at school in a different light. If you are on campus, there are undoubtedly numerous changes your school has made to adapt to COVID-19. Now ask yourself: what other changes might make your school a better, more just and sustainable place? As schools actively seek new ways to teach, learn, engage and share, reflect on your own experiences and knowledge to catalyze and craft an equitable learning environment for everyone.
Schools change because of people power, because of our voices, demands, coalitions and collaborative action. Whether that be through organizations like our partner AASHE empowering faculty, administrators, staff and students to advance sustainability throughout higher education and equip leaders to solve sustainability challenges — or our partner Acure ensuring campuses and students have only the cleanest, safest products on site to create healthy people and planet — or direct academic channels. Programs, majors and departments dedicated to environmental studies and social justice are becoming more and more common. New areas of education are rising to rightful prominence. Schools are responding to meet the shifting interests and priorities of the next generation.
Before you begin today’s challenge, please join the 2020 PGC Facebook group. You’ll need to use it in the next few days!
This year, school looks much different than ever before. No one knows the future of our education system, so let’s think about what that may be! We want to hear how this wild time has impacted you from a learning standpoint and how you are adjusting to constantly-shifting, largely-untested, hybrid formats for school.
Paint us a picture of school for you right now.
Craft a response in 100-200 words.
Now share ONE insight about education right now or a message to educators in the present moment on Instagram and/or Twitter, tagging @TurningGreenOrg and #PGC2020 to ensure young voices are heard!
Upload a PDF Document with your response, including a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
Young people are creative, innovative powerhouses. And nothing will stop us from fighting for the causes in which we believe — not even a global pandemic.
If you could lead a world-changing, locally-based organization, what would that look like? Picture yourself as the head of a regional or school club or chapter. If you are already part of a similar effort, feel free to use it for this challenge. Ask yourself:
Craft a response to answer these questions. Feel free to add other thoughts, if they arise.
Now share your ideas for this movement and its mission in a creative format of your choice! Post on Instagram tagging @TurningGreenOrg and #PGC2020.
Upload a PDF Document with your response, including a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
Schools across the United States and around the world are responding to student interest in majors and minors related to the environment, climate, food systems, environmental justice and more by offering classes, seminar series, programs and opportunities dedicated to the subjects. Let’s look into programs to see what kinds of opportunities are out there that align passions, changemaking and formal education… and then, we will build our own, inspired by Project Green Challenge!
Part 1
Find 3 colleges or universities in the US or abroad with strong sustainability-focused studies.
Part 2
How would you design an original course incorporating Project Green Challenge themes and ideas for a classroom or virtual setting? Create a syllabus for a semester-long PGC class, building off what you learned in your research of sustainability programs and your own experience as both a student and Challenger. Keep in mind:
Send your syllabus to at least one teacher or professor. Share both the syllabus and feedback from them with us.
Post a catchy post and caption on Instagram to encourage people to sign up for your new would-be PGC class! Make it informative, compelling and clear. Let’s drum up excitement around relevant, sustainability-related education we want to see in schools! Tag @TurningGreenOrg and #PGC2020, as always.
Upload a PDF Document with your responses from both Part 1 & Part 2, your syllabus and calendar of events and include a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest outstanding submissions will be selected as winners.
Each Greener Winner will receive:
Each Greenest Winner will receive:
